Search form

Search form

Adults with celiac disease who participated in a six-week online course did a better job following a gluten-free diet than those who did not get the intervention, according to a University of Sydney study in the American Journal of Gastroenterology. The course included patient education about eating gluten-free, and techniques for behavior modification and coping with anxiety and depression.

Related Summaries

Biopsies showed celiac disease patients had significant microbial imbalance and an overabundance of Neisseria flavescens bacteria, researchers reported in The American Journal of Gastroenterology. The study compared adults with active celiac disease, adults with CD on a gluten-free diet and a control group. Read the abstract.

Gluten-free diets and products are becoming popular across the U.S., even among those who do not have celiac disease. Several scientists believe a carbohydrate found in wheat is the true culprit for nonceliacs who have a sensitivity to wheat. The carbohydrate, called fructan, can cause intestinal distress and may be why some people feel better after nixing wheat from their diets.

A study from King's College London says the grain quinoa was well-tolerated by celiac disease patients and did not worsen symptoms. The study in The American Journal of Gastroenterology involved 19 patients who added 50 grams of quinoa daily to their gluten-free diets. "It's important to note that further studies are needed to determine the long-term effects of quinoa consumptions in people with celiac disease," said study author Dr. Victor Zevallos.

Italian researchers who studied the cardiovascular risks of a gluten-free diet in patients with celiac disease found participants had higher BMI levels but lower levels of serum triglycerides after adopting a gluten-free diet. They said the regimen affects cardiovascular risk factors but does not appear to lead to better or worse risk profiles overall and is unlikely to contribute to atherosclerosis.

Many people self-diagnose gluten sensitivity or celiac disease after browsing the Internet and trying out gluten-free eating, but diving into a gluten-free diet without speaking with a health care professional makes achieving an accurate diagnosis more difficult, according to Minneapolis gastroenterologist Dr. Cynthia Sherman. She says going off gluten allows intestinal healing, which masks celiac disease, "but this is a lifelong issue with long-term health ramifications. It should be diagnosed by a doctor, and the patient should be followed by a health practitioner," she said.